Ipswich girls, boys track and field teams expect high finishes

Friday

Mar 28, 2014 at 4:12 PMMar 28, 2014 at 4:12 PM

By Joshua Boydjboyd@wickedlocal.com

It’s time to turn the Cape Ann League around. That’s the decision made in the Ipswich High boys track and field camp this year.The squad went 3-5 last year, but with 17 seniors returning with experience this season, head coach Martin Binette has high expectations for this group. The Baker Division championship is firmly in the coach’s sights.Of course, those expectations will get an immediate test on Tuesday when Ipswich runs against Newburyport, always a powerful force in track and field."We're really excited about this year's boys squad and think it could be the best team we've seen here in a long time," said Binette. "Depth in the distance races will be a concern, but overall it looks like we could have a good season."The Tigers’ strengths begin with the returning 2013 Cape Ann League Baker Division Runner of the Year in Matt Jaeger. He was strong throughout last year in the long jump and triple jump.He’ll have company in those two events by another accomplished Ipswich athlete – Alex Jean-Charles. He won the 100-meter dash championship last spring and has an eye on a repeat there.Ryan Bahar is a returning senior (at Georgetown High School) and a returning league champion in the 110-meter hurdles.Binette is hoping Jean-Charles, Jaeger, senior Nate Glaster and junior Ryan White can give the Tigers a 4x100-meter relay league title.Senior captain David Dick is "one of the top pole vaulters in the league," said Binette. He also can help the Tigers in the 400-meter and 4x400-meter relay events.Senior Michael Riddle is coming off impressive cross-country and indoor seasons, and he’ll be counted on for consistent points whether he runs the mile or two-mile.Also, keep an eye out this year for senior Tim Lee (shotput, discus), Glaster (200, long jump), White (high jump, sprints) and sophomore Josh Brown (javelin).

Girls team a younger groupThe situation on the girls side is quite a different picture, as the Tigers lost a strong 2013 graduating class. Even still, this team has a lot of the same personnel that went 10-0 in the winter indoor season. Last year’s spring team went 5-3 overall."Despite graduating a great senior class from last year, I think the girls could be a dangerous team in the league," said Binette, who is the head coach for both teams.Binette has four knowledgeable assistants helping him – Jack Welch, Ken Spellman, Micki McVann and Sue Markos.Michaela Hedderman is still just a sophomore, but already has a Division 4 championship to her name in the 200-meter dash. She’s the Cape Ann League champion in that event and in the 100-meter dash as well."She is coming off a great indoor season and should do well," said BinetteSenior Devin Smith will contend for league glory in the 400-meter run, he triple jump and the high jump."She is one of the league’s best [400] runners and will be a team leader in the jumps," said Binette.Sophomore Emily DeMarco is a top distance runner for the Tigers, and she’ll join Smith and senior Jill Calvani ("one of the top middle distance runners in the league") in the 4x400-meter relay.Calvani can also run the 400-meter hurdles and take part in the long jump.Nora McMorrow (junior) should rank as one of the league’s top pole vaulters in the end, while also putting up points in long jump and in sprints.Seniors Katie Monahan and Maria Balzer are strong 100-meter hurdles runners, junior Annie Zampitella will hold down the fort in the mile and two-mile and senior Marissa Cain is the team’s top javelin thrower."We do have some holes to fill in the shotput and discus, but overall I think this team has a chance to do very well in league competition," said Binette. "We're riding a lot of momentum from our 10-0 indoor season and the girls are excited about how good we could be."Like every team this month, outside practices have been a rare privilege, not the norm."Hopefully, after [potential snowfall on March 26], it’ll start to warm up and we'll get out there," added Binette.